吃 chī eat
How to remember 吃: 口 mouth + 乞 beg = eat. The dog opens its mouth and begins to beg at grandma's birthday table, desperate for something to eat.
Component breakdown
吃 = 口 mouth + 乞 beg
- 口 mouth
- 乞 beg
The dog opens its mouth and begins to beg at grandma's birthday table, desperate for something to eat.
How it is used
- Core verb 'to eat' - 吃饭 (chī fàn) eat a meal, 吃药 (chī yào) take medicine (Chinese 'eats' medicine, not 'takes' it).
- Also fronts many figurative compounds: 吃惊 (chījīng) be startled, 吃苦 (chīkǔ) endure hardship, 吃力 (chīlì) be strenuous.
- Note 好吃 (hǎochī) means 'tasty', literally 'good to eat' - a stative adjective, not the act of eating.
Words with 吃
- 好吃hǎochītastyHSK 1
- 吃惊chī jīngbe startledHSK 4
- 小吃xiǎochīsnackHSK 4
- 大吃一惊dàchī-yìjīngastoundedHSK 6
- 口吃kǒuchīto stammerHSK 7
- 吃力chīlìto entail strenuous effortHSK 7
- 吃喝玩乐chī-hē-wán-lèliterally to eat, drink, play and be merryHSK 7
- 吃苦chīkǔto bear hardshipsHSK 7
- 吃亏chīkuīto suffer lossesHSK 8
- 贪吃tānchīgluttonousHSK 9
Example sentences
- 她在吃饭吗？ Tā zài chīfàn ma?Is she eating now?
- 我还没吃饭。 Wǒ hái méi chīfàn.I haven't eaten yet.
- 大家在吃午饭。 Dàjiā zài chī wǔfàn.Everyone is eating lunch.
- 我们喜欢吃米饭。 Wǒmen xǐhuan chī mǐfàn.We like eating rice.